JOY

J esus first

O thers second

Y ou last

This is true JOY. ~ Lois Kelly,

Kindergarten teacher

Oh, how the “shoulda, woulda, couldas” of life can rob our intended joy and steal our peace, the gifts of God.

When our dreams are stolen and our hearts are broken we need not stay there ~ that is what we do when our minds linger there, when we day dream over the shouldas and our words carry in them, a wistfulness for yesterday.

God allows all that happens in our life and He carries us forward, when we choose His path for us. He moves past, over, around and thru the could-have-beens and brings us to the openness of now ~ The empowered, with-God days, where Joy resides.

In Him all things are possible ~ all healing and purpose are found. The heart break and hurts that are so deep, are the very well-spring that we serve from. Living in them, instead of offering them up for service, is where our bondage traps us. There is no Life there, only sorrows of the past.

Be devoted to one another in love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10 ~ NIV

Joy was never meant to be self-serving, ‘me’ oriented. Joy, real joy, the JOY of Jesus is all encompassing. When we look at our circumstance, our feelings and see them only from a ‘what’s in it for me’ perspective, we’ve already missed it. But, when we put Jesus first and His desires for others next, our hearts are filled to overflowing! Really, what’s more joyful than sensing His presence in a situation and seeing real JOY released into the lives of others!  As for being last? We’re never last in God’s eyes. HE is the One Who directs our steps, plans our days and invites us to enJOY every moment with Him…in all things.

Our God, King of kings, Lord of lords is the Light in the darkness ~ we need only step towards Him and lean into Love’s Joy and allow ourselves to heal…to learn the unforced rhythms of Grace, as He lives in us and thru us. ♥

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life.

Psalm 42:8 ~ New Living Translation

Nets

…they didn’t ask questions. 

They dropped their nets and followed.

Mark 1:18 ~ The Message

Questions, I’m full of them! ‘How? Why? When?...why?’

Wasn’t that what we were all taught growing up? How to write a good paper, formulate your thoughts, grasp concepts – they all start with questioning the obvious! Now days we have catch phrases that impugn the statements of others incessantly…Really? Seriously?

We throw up walls to deafen the input of others and cut off possibly vital life giving words, and it all runs on auto pilot. My questions to myself ~ “How am I questioning God without even realizing it? What does my “autopilot” sound like to Him? And while I’m asking questions ~ “What do my nets look like, what are they full of and why haven’t I put them down?!?”

I do think those are all good questions and maybe should be addressed. God does spend our earthly life teaching us, growing us up in Him and revealing the next right step everyday. Thank you, Jesus He does, ‘cuz we all carry things we shouldn’t and pick things up along the way that we were never intended to carry. For me, putting things out of my life that do not honour God is important, but I have to ask myself about those silly nets!?! You see, I wouldn’t have “stuff” in the way, if I didn’t have somewhere to store it.

      So Lord, please show me my “nets”. The places, people and possessions that carry my stuff, not Yours. And oh Lord, when You show me, by Your Grace, help me to put down my nets and not ask any questions.